Chagford Challenge LDWA

My first event for quite a while, there were two main reasons for signing up for this one. Firstly to start the build up to my main aim of the year and secondly to introduce my new training partner to LDWA events. I will get to the plans for the rest of the year later.

I know I have said it before but every time I take part in a LDWA event I am amazed at their friendly well organised events they put on, once again this was the case in the Cornwall & Devon LDWA Chagford Challenge. Great support, food and weather.

 Now my new running partner has not done a long run like this before so we decided to enter the middle distance route (20 mile). We got on well together all day and kept a fairly even pace the only problem I had was when he said things like "Dad I think we can run this bit".

The route starts following a beautiful wooded track along the River Teign before turning up a steep hill to Cranbrook Castle. You then travel through field and country lanes to North Bovey. The second big climb on the route took us up onto open moorland. The day had started to warm up and it was nice to have a bit of a breeze on the tops. After a great checkpoint stop at Warren House Inn (peaches and rice pudding) we headed over to Fernworthy reservoir and the last section back to Chagford.

What is next then, well having said how great the LDWA events I have entered some different events this year.

• Chiltern Ultra 50k
• The Wye One Way 50

Better start getting the weekly mileage up.

Across Wales Walk 2012

It was only our second attempt at the Across Wales Walk. but already there were people to catch up with since the first time. I slept well on the village hall floor, it helps if you are the one who snores and keeps the others awake.

We set off on the short coach trip to the start at Anchor. It felt a little cold on the start line and I was nervous. As we knew we had not done enough training we started slow with a lot of walking.

The whole route across Wales covers some great landscapes, one of the most enjoyable things is seeing the changes from rural Shropshire to hills and forest to mountain. There were some great running sections, on one of the best we ran down the hill to Llandinam with Marcus. I was still felling good on the next road sections towards Hafren Forest. After consuming some very nice home-made malt loaf at Checkpoint 3 we set off along the Wye River Trail. Emerging from the forest we headed straight up the slope to Plynlimon.

This is where the difficulties began. The wind had picked up and as I reached the ridge I was starting to fell sick and starting to get cold. I put on an extra layer and we headed down towards Nant-y-moch. When we reached the reservoir I was very cold and put on all my spare kit. It was a slow shuffle to the fouth checkpoimt along the road which follows the southern edge of the reservoir. Along the road we decided I should call it a day.

After some soup and tea it was a relief to climb into the back of the mini bus and fall asleep. I tried and failed to persuade Simon that he should carry on as he was still full of beans.

You can say the first half of the course was beautiful, which it was, that the atmosphere was very friendly which it was, and it is a great event to be part of but I was still p'd off. Well next year maybe.

Cerne Giant 30

This new LDWA route starts in Cerne Abbas, heads east through villages like Plush and Cross Lanes before reaching Bingham's Melcombe. This is a beautiful 16th century manor with immaculate gardens. We tried not to make too much noise on the gravel paths. From here the route turned west to follow the Wessex Ridgeway north of Cerne Abbas to Sydling St Nicolas. The climb up Shearplace Hill, the final hill, returns to Cerne Abbas.

Walkers started at 8 and runners before 9. We set off just after 8 to allow the field to spread but to gives us enough time to get round and enjoy refuelling at the checkpoints. It was a beautiful day with great views over the Dorset hills.

At the half way point we were passed by a couple of runners who had obviously started long after us and were still full of running. I was pleased to find out afterwards that one of them was Jez Bragg, who went on to finish first.

As always the Dorset LDWA put on a wonderfully friendly and well organised event. At the main checkpoint in Buckland Newton, Simon and I were talking to another runner who said "you don't want to eat too much as it can sit heavily on your stomach". As we watched them leave the checkpoint we shock our heads sadly. They seemed to have missed the point. Now fruit cake or lemon drizzle or both, silly question - both. Our advise if you are concerned about eating too much is slow down, have another sandwich or sausage roll or cake and walk for a bit.

I have not run since and have been working too much, so plans for the next big run have been delayed. Luckily there are some great plans for canoe and biking trips on the horizon.